Severus Snape and the Reluctant Hero
Disclaimer: All characters in this story (except for Ravenna...Snape) belong to JKR, not me. This is my take on how our beloved Severus Snape came to be the way he is. Pre HBP but with elements from same. This is my version of year 6.
Chapter One
The Return of Madam Snape
"Albus, are you out of your mind?" Severus snarled as Dumbledore stared gently over his half-moon shaped glasses.
"Severus, we have no choice and you know it. We need her, now more than ever. Who better to assist in his training than one who learned from the best?" Now Dumbledore wore a hint of a smile. Snape did not take compliment well.
Severus, still not ready to let go of his anger and despair responded, "She left us both over him, why do you believe she would be willing to return now. We don't even know for sure if she still lives."
"Ah.. she does live, and at this moment resides in a rather comfortable estate in upstate New York in the employ of a wizarding family." Albus paused for a moment allowing this information to sink in. "She is Arthur and Nicholas Bloodworth's nanny. Furthermore, her employ with them will be coming to an end soon as the youngest, Camellia, will be coming to Hogwarts this year."
Severus was stunned, he knew these children, knew their father Luther as well. Luther Bloodworth is a sworn and marked supporter of Voldemort. He fled England to escape capture from the Aurors. After Voldemort's fall, he was eventually cleared of any Death Eater activity but had chosen to remain in America.
"That 'twit' those idiots have been referring to for the past few years is my wife?" Now Dumbledore had a genuine smile on his face. He has known for years Severus truly loved his great-granddaughter, and did not marry her only to protect her infiltration of the Death Eaters.
"That is correct and now it is time to bring her home. Time for you to reclaim your wife." Albus smiled, Severus scowled.
Upstate New York, July 4th
Tish Windsor busily prepared the evening meal for the Bloodworth family. As she is a 'squib', this process takes considerably longer when prepared as Muggles do it. Her mistress, Madam Gwendolyn Bloodworth, seemed to take great pleasure in preparing elaborate menus for her to slave over. Tish figured that had more to do with the way Luther looked at her than to actually impress anyone.
As the Bloodworth's have lived in America for so long, they began to partake 'separately of course' in some American traditions, such as tonight. Tonight is the celebration of the American defeat of England, the day they claimed their Independence from the Crown. After the meal, they would portkey to the location where the Muggles were having their annual fireworks display. She never understood the fascination Muggles had with this tradition, but then again, did not spend much time trying to figure it out.
Two and a half hours later, dinner was eaten, and the Bloodworth's were setting off to watch the fireworks. Tish was again glad to have the family leave. She would finish the clean up from dinner, which by now, only the actual serving dishes were left and would go to bed. As she had sworn off using magic years ago, she found herself exhausted at the end of each day. She was grateful that only a few times a year she was required to work after dinner.
Over the past fifteen years, she found not using magic easier, but still had days where she regretted her vow. She was also glad that her employment agreement with this family was coming to an end. When she met up with this family in France, she had no idea how truly cruel they were to those they considered beneath them. At the time, she thought herself extremely lucky to have found a Death Eater. At least with this family, she would still be able to indirectly keep in touch with the wizarding world.
Two years ago, when the mark on her left forearm began to darken and burn, she finally contacted her great-grandfather, Albus Dumbledore, to find out what was going on. When she found out about Harry's abduction and Voldermort's rise, she began to pay even more attention to Luther Bloodworth's comings and goings.
Now that the remains of dinner were cleaned and put away, she decided a long bath and bed were in order. As she slowly bathed in the steaming water, her mind began to wander about what was going on in England at this very moment.
Before long she finished with her bath and was dressing when she heard a noise that sounded much like a car backfiring. She glanced briefly out her bedroom window, but saw nothing to catch her attention. She returned her attention to the bed, the one true comfort she had in this house. Neatly folding down the covers and rearranging the pillows to her favorite position, she then removed an item of clothing from the uppermost drawer in the massive chest of drawers and sat on the bed. As she delicately unfolded the obviously male shirt, she clutched it tightly to her chest and with a sobbing sigh lay back on the bed. Before she had the covers pulled over herself, her locked door flew open with such force that it bounced off the wall and threatened to reseal itself. She leapt from the bed, startled by both the noise and the motion of the door. As she spun to face the door, she found herself staring into the cold dark eyes of her husband.
Startled into silence, she returned his glare. When she did not speak, he did. "So, this is where you have been all these years, hiding in plain sight." The snarl on his face, and growl in his voice unmistakable.
Now that he has spoken so coldly, she found it easy to respond. "I don't seem to recall having any reason to stay where I was. Was there something I missed?" The glare in her eyes could have easily frozen him in place, had she that power.
"You didn't really give me a chance to raise any sort of argument against your leaving, now did you?" This time, the quiet hurt in his voice caught her off guard. She had never expected this.
"Albus refused me Harry, you did nothing to support me, even thought he would have had a much better life with us than the one he had. Even now you treat him with hatred and distain. Why should I believe you wanted me to stay? We only married for our mutual protection from Voldemort to begin with, didn't we?" Now she was trying deliberately to be hurtful, so he could not see she actually did hurt, then and now, because she left.
"My treatment of Potter has absolutely nothing to do with this conversation. First things first, I need to know why you really left. Did you not love me!" The quiet anguish in his voice broke her heart. Had he really loved her as much as she loved him? How could she have not known his feelings for her ran so deep?'
"Severus I . . . I did not know you felt that way. You were against us getting married to begin with." She was unable to continue the lump in her throat became so large she was unable to swallow and the tears in her eyes blurred her vision.
"Ravenna…" he began with his deep voice so low it was barely audible "my opposition to the marriage had nothing to do with love and everything to do with your safety." Without speaking another word, Severus swiftly crossed the room to stand directly in front of her. With a gently glance down at her, he pulled her into his arms and rested his cheek against the top of her head. For an instant, he thought she would pull away from the embrace and was startled when he felt her arms wrap around his body and squeeze tightly. For fifteen long years, he had dreamt of this moment, the moment when he would have his beloved wife in his arms. To have her return his affection, to love him. In this embrace, he knew she loved him as much as he loved her. Now, there would be a chance to fix everything. At least he hoped.
They stood for several long moments, locked in their embrace. Then she abruptly pulled away. Severus was devastated by the action, sure his world would come crashing down around his ears. As Ravenna looked into his eyes, seeing the terror there, she gently laid a hand on his left forearm.
"You should not be here. The Bloodworth's will be returning soon. They cannot find you with me!" In that moment, she realized she should not have spoken the words, but needed to convey to him how dangerous his presence was.
After his moment of horror had passed, he realized what she was truly saying. "Relax, I have that covered. I have been instructed by the Dark Lord to help round up those followers whom he believes are too far away to feel the summons. I am merely here on an errand."
She smiled shyly at him, then lowered her eyes to look at the shirt she had dropped on the bed. Severus lowered his eyes to what she was looking at. "So, that is where it went. I looked for that for two years you know." The tone was sarcastic, but the gleam in his eye was surprisingly playful.
"The last act of magic I did was to charm the shirt to not lose its – your – scent." Again, she smiled shyly.
Deciding to save any further teasing for later, he spoke. "I think perhaps you should change your clothing and attend me in the den." He said, still smiling.
Ravenna glanced down at her bedclothes and then back into her husband's eyes. "I believe perhaps you should leave the room so I can change, or we will most definitely be caught doing something we should not be doing here." This time the look in her eye was anything but shy.
Severus started, and then grinned wickedly at the remark. "I believe you are correct. After fifteen years, I may not be able to restrain myself. I shall await you in the den."
Ten minutes later Severus was sitting in the den gingerly sipping the brandy he had been served. He rose at the sound of the front door opening.
"Severus? Severus Snape, is that you?" Luther's booming voice sounded from the entryway.
"Luther Bloodworth, I have come on urgent business. Might we talk?" Severus watched with glee as the blood drained from his face.
Bloodworth stammered slightly, and then nodded his head. Raising a hand in a gesture of pause, he then turned to his wife. "Gwen, take the children upstairs and ready them for bed. Master Snape and I will be in my office. I do not wish to be disturbed." He then turned again to face Snape and gestured with his hand for Severus to precede him down the indicated hallway. Neither man spoke until they entered Luther's office and he charmed the door. "Snape, what business brings you all the way here from England?" Bloodworth spoke with unconcern in his voice, but his face held a look of sheer terror. He had hoped to return on his own to England before being summoned.
"The Dark Lord has bid me to contact those of his loyal who are abroad, believing they are too far away to feel his summons, to appear to him." There was a slight snarl on his curled up lips. "We are in need of your services."
Bloodworth knew well what that meant. Voldemort had need of his hard earned money.
"Please convey to our Lord I am currently in preparation to return to England. When I heard of his return I figured my presence would be expected." Although the words seemed genuine, the look on his face was not.
"I shall return to him in the morning with this most excellent news. He also bids you to host a gathering at the end of the month. Secure gathering places in England are increasingly hard to come by. Now that the Ministry of Magic is aware of his return, the Aurors are out in force hunting us down." It again pleased Severus to see the increasing look of terror in Bloodworth's eyes.
"Inform our Lord all will be ready as he commands." Without further acknowledgement Snape rose from the chair and approached the door. With a casual waive of his wand, he broke the charm on the door and crossed the threshold. As he approached the entryway, the turned to again look into his wife's eyes. She was at the foot of the staircase on her way to the kitchen to prepare bedtime tea.
"I shall be spending the night at the Muggle inn down the street. Please have you servant…" then he paused to look pointedly at Ravenna "deliver the summary of the preparations you will be making."
Understanding that Snape was looking for an evening's 'entertainment', he reluctantly nodded his head in acknowledgement as he opened the door.
Severus stood on the step outside the door for a moment, contemplating whether his request was wise. Then he took a deep breath and proceeded to walk down the path toward the road that would take him to the afore mentioned inn. He truly had no intention of staying here for the night, but the prospect of finally spending a night with his wife was too much to pass up.
Hillshire Inn, early morning July 5th
Severus sat impatiently waiting in the too flowerily, too feminine room he had been provided. He hoped Bloodworth understood what he was trying to convey, that he wanted the services of his nanny for the night. The thought of demanding in such a way of his wife's company was crass, but necessary. Now that he knew she truly did love him, he could not go for another month without touching her.
After more than two agonizing hours of waiting, there came a light knock on his door. He leapt to his feet and nearly ripped the door off its hinges in his eagerness. The sight that met his eyes on the other side of the abused door was the most heavenly he had ever seen. There stood his wife. Her beautiful waist length wavy brown-black hair, her bright blue-green eyes so full of love for him, her full almost pouty pale red lips, and her creamy porcelain pale face. He stood frozen for a moment drinking in her beauty, then pulled her to him, nearly crushing her in his embrace. She enthusiastically returned his embrace, and then turned her face up to look him in the eyes.
Severus nudged the door closed with his foot as he gently released her, taking her face in his hands, stroking her temple with his left hand while brushing the thumb of his right over her lips. He wanted to consume her, but chose to take his time with her, to discover all there was to know. Time passed slowly as he moved his hands from her face, placing one on her hip and the other at the base of her head. He lowered his lips to hers, and was greeted by the most passionate kiss he had ever experienced.
Regretfully he released her from his embrace and guided her toward the chairs in the far corner of the room. She looked at him questioningly before moving to sit. They both sat quietly for a few awkward moments.
"Ravenna…"
"Severus…"
They both chuckled at having spoken at the same moment.
"You first." Ravenna said nervously. Severus smiled momentarily and took deep breath.
"How did you come to be here?"
Ravenna knew that was not the question he really wanted to ask, but prepared to answer none the less. "I was in France, the Bloodworth's were there on holiday. I happened upon him while I was following another Death Eater. I overheard their conversation about finding a nanny for the baby they were expecting." She paused to look deeply into his eyes. He gestured for her to continue. "That is when I got the idea of how to get cleanly away from everything." She said shamefully.
"So, you convinced them to hire you?" He asked curiously.
"Not exactly. I allowed them to overhear me asking the innkeeper if there were any positions available. Then I gave a story about being rejected by my wizard family because I lacked magical abilities." She smiled at his shocked expression.
"You, lack magical abilities, that's a joke." He grunted.
"Yes, but it had the desired effect. Gwendolyn approached me and started asking me questions. Apparently she was satisfied with my answers because she asked me to come to America to be her nanny."
"Severus just shook his head. "You left your entire life to become a nanny, and non-magical at that!"
"I had to make it convincing. I knew Bloodworth would be suspicious of a witch." Ravenna said defensively. "I was angry Severus. I wanted to get as far away from everything as possible. I knew if I were to go to work for a Death Eater I would be able to keep tabs on things, and no one would know where to find me."
"Going to work for him was risky though, what if he had recognized you?" Severus asked curiously.
"As you may recall, you were very careful to insulate me from many of Voldemort's underlings, so that I would be able to continue my Auror work." She smiled at him. He just snorted and continued to shake his head.
"For a spur of the moment idea, you certainly did plan well." Severus commented admiringly.
"Well, I was trained by an expert." She smiled widely at him. He just shrugged in response.
"Explain to me how it is we received reports that you had been killed by an Auror and a Death Eater."
"That was more difficult to arrange. I had been sent to France to follow up on a report of Death Eaters who were hiding there. I found two and engaged them in a duel. One was killed, I modified the memory of the other. I knew reports would get back that a Death Eater was killed, and I gave the survivor the memory of him killing the Auror they fought." She concluded quietly.
"So, naturally it would be assumed when you did not return from France it had been you who was killed. Absolutely brilliant." Severus responded astoundedly. Now it was Ravenna's turn to shrug.
"That's what I hoped." She responded quietly.
"How is it then, that Albus knew where I could find you?"
"Almost two years ago the Mark started to get darker. I contacted Grandfather to find out why. That is when he told me about what happened during the Triwizard Tournament."
"So, even at this distance, the Mark works?" Severus commented absently. Ravenna nodded.
"I have a question for you." Ravenna said quietly.
"Please." Was Severus's even response.
"Why is it that after fifteen years you are not with anyone?" She asked hesitantly. "Under the laws of our world an unconsummated marriage is invalid after two years."
Severus stared at her blankly for a moment. 'Is it possible she does not know that I love her, and always have?' "The simple answer to that question is that I am married." He smiled lovingly at her. She stared at him astonished.
"You still think of me as your wife?" She was dumbfounded, he just nodded and smiled. "You love me?" She finished hesitantly, not sure she really wanted to know the answer.
His response was to rise from the chair and pull her from hers. "I would like to think our greeting when you arrived had already answered that question." He said seductively as he pulled her close to him for another kiss. This one even longer and more passionate than the previous.
They took their time, gently freeing each other from the clothing that separated them. Only when there was nothing left between the, did they move to the bed.
"Ravenna, are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Severus whispered in her ear.
Ravenna pulled his lips to hers before answering. "Severus, I only regret that we haven't done this already." Was her loving response.
He returned her kiss fervently as he lowered her to the bed, her passionate response only encouraged him more. Knowing she had never experienced physical love before he was extremely attentive and gentle so as to hurt her as little as possible. At the height of their passion Severus, so preoccupied with not hurting her, lowered the mental guards he usually maintained so carefully. As Ravenna was well skilled in legilimency – thanks to Severus's training – she could not help but brush his mind with hers. What she found there had startled her, and warmed her heart. She had to find a way to make her husband's heart wish come true. She just had to.
Hours later, lying spent in each other's arms, secure in the knowledge that each did truly love the other, Severus nuzzled his face to her neck. "Rae, you know I have to return to England?" His voice a deep whisper in her ear. Her response was to grab the back of his neck, securing a handful of hair, holding him in place. She inhaled deeply before responding.
"I know…" she whispered. "I only wish we had more time." His heart sang at this.
"I did come for another reason." He smiled against her neck, causing her to pull his face closer to her neck. She loved the way he was playing with it. "Albus informs me your employment contract is due to expire. He wants you to return to Hogwarts. He wants you to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, and to instruct Harry in occlumency. I fear this is one task I have been unsuccessful at." With that comment came a wry quirk of his lips, which she could not see, but did feel.
"I am not qualified to take such a post. How does he expect me to teach magic when I have not used it for fifteen years?"
"Rae, you have probably forgotten more about this subject than most of the 'qualified' teachers out there even know. Hell, you may even know more about it than I. Anyone who has been able to evade the Dark Lord's notice by hiding in a Death Eater's house for so long is more than qualified." The quirk of his grin made her laugh.
"My employment contract doesn't expire until the end of this month, I cannot return to England until then. The problem will be, as soon as I return, I will be summoned. There is no way I will be able to hide from him that close." The expression on her face was one of true concern.
"Albus and I are aware of that particular problem. We believe by the end of the month we should have a solution. In the mean time, when you return to the Bloodworth's tonight, you must make it seem as though I have totally degraded and humiliated you. You must not let him know you found the experience with me enjoyable." She raised an eyebrow, and grinned.
"What makes you think I did find it enjoyable?" He could tell by the look on her face she was playing with him.
"Anyway, this cannot seem to him to have been pleasurable to you." He grinned at her. He felt as thought he were a teenager again, not that he had enjoyed the experience the first time.
"I shall return at the end of the month. The information you so graciously delivered this evening is Luther's plan for hosting a Death Eater gathering at that time. When the meeting is over, I shall personally escort you back to Hogwarts and present you to the Headmaster as the new professor." The pride on his face was evident, even in the dimly lit room.
Both regrettably rose from the bed they shared and dressed. Severus waited for Ravenna to reach the door before wrapping her in his arms from behind and laying his cheek on her head. "I cannot let you leave me again without telling you how much I love you. I made that mistake once already."
She turned in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I love you too, Severus. I am truly sorry I have wasted so many years being foolish and stubborn." Severus could not help but smile at this. She had always been stubborn, proud and brave. But she could also be ruthless. She truly shared traits from both houses her parents hailed from.
"The tears are a wonderful touch, Bloodworth will be sure to believe I have abused you for my own pleasure. I wouldn't doubt it one bit if Madam Bloodworth gets attention because of this." Again, he quirked at her.
"Now, don't make me smile. It will ruin the effect we are working for, won't it. I am going to miss you though. At least for tonight I won't have to hold just your shirt to smell you. You are all over me. I may not bathe for a week… on second thought…" she smiled through her still glassy, moist eyes.
As soon as Ravenna left the room, shutting the door behind her, Severus apparated. He must report to the Dark Lord, and Dumbledore, that all is being made ready. He was truly anxious for Voldemort's downfall. He could not wait to have his own life back. Now that he had one to look forward to.
The walk back to the Bloodworth estate was exactly what Ravenna needed in order to play the role her husband had requested. With each step away from the inn, she felt the pain of his departure more keenly. She could not have stopped the tears if she wanted too. He truly and deeply loved her, and wanted to have a family with her. How could she have been so blind to his feelings? How could she have wasted so many years being petty and spiteful? 'Thanks mother, for that wonderful trait.' She thought bitterly to herself.
No sooner than she crossed the threshold of the entryway Luther Bloodworth met her. Knowing the hour, she was startled by his presence. Before she could even open her mouth to speak, she found herself falling to the floor due to the vicious backhand her face received. She made to push up off the floor of the entryway, but before she was able to do so, she was kicked hard in the ribs. She felt them fracture and felt the breath escape her body. She made one last attempt to lift herself off the floor, and then collapsed back down, surrounded by darkness.
Satisfied he had made his point, he magicked her to her room, leaving her unconscious and bleeding on the bed.
Several hours later she awoke to the sensation of hands probing her fractured ribs. None to gentle hands at that. She vaguely heard voices, male voices. "It does not seem to be anything life threatening, but she will be in pain for several weeks while the bones heal. I could leave you some Skele-gro if you like." Said an unfamiliar voice.
"That will not be necessary." Luther responded, with more than a little malice in his voice.
She lay there, pretending to still be unconscious, waiting for them to leave. She heard the door close, but then a moment later felt the bed lower as if someone had sat on it. She had sustained more severe injuries than this as an Auror, but could not let on that she had experienced this sort of abuse before.
He snarled at her as he realized she was waking. "You should have at least had the decency to defend yourself a little. You should have come back black and blue. Since you did not, I had to do the deed myself. How dare you allow yourself to be humiliated in such a way without defending my honor. He should have beaten you into submission! I'll bet you couldn't wait to spread your legs for him!" He hissed loudly.
She knew his anger for what it truly was, for the past fifteen years he had been attempting, unsuccessfully, to bed her himself. Weakly, she attempted to lift herself off the bed with her elbows and then collapsed from the pain. "Sir, I was unable to do anything. The moment I entered the room, he immobilized me and raped me. He said something about finding physical force beneath him." 'Got you, you bastard', she thought as she watched the expression on his face change from glee to shame.
"You shall be allowed one day to recuperate, I will be taking the entire family to London today. We shall be back tomorrow afternoon. I expect you to be ready to resume your duties at that time." He stated a little less harshly.
"Yes, sir." Was her timid response.
After he left her room, she gingerly rose from the bed, retrieved her beloved shirt – Severus's shirt – and returned to bed. Within moments she was asleep.
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